After getting shelled for eight runs a few days earlier, Yu Darvish stepped onto the mound Wednesday looking to bounce back. What followed was seven innings of vintage pitching that secured a 5-0 victory over the Mets and carved his name into baseball history.

The 38-year-old Darvish dominated New York’s lineup in spectacular fashion after that brutal outing, where he lasted just 3.1 innings while surrendering eight earned runs. This time, everything clicked. After allowing a single to Mark Vientos in the first inning, Darvish retired the next 13 batters he faced in methodical fashion.

How Did Yu Darvish Bounce Back So Dramatically?

The veteran right-hander recorded a fine performance, striking out seven batters while giving up only two hits and no walks. Most impressively, he completed seven innings while throwing just 76 pitches, showcasing the efficiency that has defined his best performances throughout his career.

This dominant outing ended San Diego’s three-game sweep of a New York team that had been riding high with seven straight wins before arriving at Petco Park.

Beyond the immediate impact on the Padres’ playoff push, this win carried special significance for Darvish personally, as it was the 204th win of his professional career, the most for a Japanese-born pitcher between NPB and MLB combined.

History for Yu Darvish! pic.twitter.com/f1EsVXarHh

— MLB (@MLB) July 30, 2025

While Darvish handled his business on the mound, the Padres’ lineup provided plenty of offensive support. Manny Machado continued his impressive stretch at the plate, driving in the game’s first runs with a clutch two-out single to left field.

The scoring continued when Gavin Sheets doubled the Padres’ advantage with his first home run since July 9. Jackson Merrill added an insurance run in the eighth inning, plating Fernando Tatis Jr. with a sacrifice fly that extended the lead to 5-0.

Machado, Luis Arraez, and Martin Maldonado each contributed two hits to the offensive attack.

After missing the first three and a half months due to inflammation in his right elbow, Darvish had been struggling since returning to the mound. His disastrous outing last week in St. Louis raised serious concerns about his fitness for the final stretch run as the Trade Deadline approached.

Wednesday’s performance, where he allowed only two hits and struck out seven in seven scoreless innings, provided crucial answers to those mounting concerns about his health and effectiveness.

“He’s a pillar of this organization and has been for a while,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “Made history today — so he’s clearly a presence and a clear talent. That was on display today.”

The timing couldn’t be better for San Diego’s rotation needs. While the Padres’ bullpen has been the finest in baseball over the first four months of the 2025 season, their improvised back end of the rotation has created some challenges. Those starters haven’t been consuming significant innings, leaving the bullpen somewhat overworked as a result.

Darvish’s ability to deliver seven strong innings could provide the solution the team desperately needed.